www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News EWTN to air Ukrainian/Ruthenian Celebration

Am curious as to why the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh hasn't given more attention to this major event in the history of both the Philadelphia Arceparchy and the Pittsburgh Archeparchy. Afterall, +Bishop Soter Ortynsky was the first Greek Catholic bishop in the United States appointed by Rome for all of us Ruthenians and Ukrainians.

Wish someone would explain!

Metropolitan Stefan�s Speech at Opening Synod Dinner
Published: September 27, 2007

Welcome, my brothers and sisters in Christ!
A heartfelt and joyous welcome to all of our guests, and most especially to our Patriarch, His Beatitude, Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, and to all of the 39 Bishops and one Eparchial Administrator who have elected to have the Synod of Ukrainian Catholic Bishops take place within the first eparchy established outside of Ukraine � the Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

Our magnificent Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral complex sits on holy ground. It is the location of the first Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in America. It is where our first Bishop, the Most Rev. Stephen Soter Ortynsky, together with Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky, blessed the first Cathedral. How befitting that we have gathered here celebrating the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Greek Catholic Bishop for the USA, Bishop Ortynsky. How special it is that today�s spiritual head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Patriarch Lubomyr Cardinal Husar joins us in this celebration, in the footsteps of Metropolitan Sheptytsky.

This dinner gathering was especially planned to give special honor to the clergy and religious of the Metropolitan See of Philadelphia. All the clergy and religious sisters of our Church in the United States were invited to participate. I am pleased to share with you that among us today are 62 clergy from the Philadelphia Archeparchy, 54 clergy of the Stamford Eparchy, 16 clergy of the St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma, and 7 clergy of the St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago. Also, among us are 13 seminarians from our St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary, which offers formation for priests for all four eparchies in this Metropolitan See. Among us are also 21 Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, among them the newly elected Mother General Sister Miriam Claire Kowal, their Provincial, Sister Laura Palka, and Mother Georgianna Snihur; 26 Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, among them their Provincial, Sister Michele Yakymovitch; 5 Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God, among them Mother Nadia Baranik; and 4 Sisters of St. Anne, among them their Mother General from Brazil, Mother Aquelina. We are also pleased to welcome the wives of clergy who could join us today. Also gracing us with their presence are Very Rev. Archimandrite Joseph Lee of the Holy Cross Monostery in Washington, the Provincial of the Basilian Fathers in the USA, Most Rev. Maurico Popadiuk, and our dedicated Chancery staff.

Today, the Bishops of the Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church honor you, my brother clergy and religious of this nation. We want you to know of our love for you. We desire you to know of our fraternal concern for your wellness, spiritual and physical. We want to renew our commitment to journey together with you in our service and ministry to the faithful of our Ukrainian Catholic Church. The Bishops want to hear your thoughts and concerns about our holy Church. Today�s luncheon format allows for us to share with one another what is important to us about our Church. It facilitates us to share our joys and our disappointments.

There is no formal program planned for today�s luncheon. There will be no additional speakers to distract our attention. We want to devote this time of sharing a meal around one table to share and dialogue with one another. Let it not become a time of question and answer with the bishop at your table. Rather, we desire that you take the time to share with the bishop and with one another your thoughts and hopes for our Ukrainian Catholic Church, universally and in the United States of America.

So often, the human tendency is to focus on differences among people and societies. I invite you to consider in your dialogue that which we have in common in our journey of faith. Consider for example, the massive exodus of young people from towns and villages into the large cities, in search of better jobs and enhanced education possibilities. This is something which the eparchies in the United States and in Canada have struggled through over the last decades. The eparchies in Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina and other parts of the world are now facing this challenge in a significant way at this time. We can learn from one another by sharing what was done well and what we failed to do in facing the various challenges we face as a Church. I invite you to make the most of this opportunity to learn from one another.

In his short years of ministry in America, Bishop Stephen Soter Ortynsky left us a monumental vision on which to build upon. He inspired the Church to minister beyond itself, with his call to �preach to all nations�. The hierarchy, clergy and religious of the Metropolitan See of Philadelphia see it as a special blessing by God that the Synod Fathers were inspired to convene the Synod of Bishops in Philadelphia. We thank God and we thank our brother bishops for your holy presence amidst us.

Permit me a special word of gratitude to my Auxiliary Bishop John and to the many clergy, religious and staff who have participated in providing for the meeting of the Synod, and for the 100th anniversary celebrations. The team spirit was incredible. Each person put their gifts fully at the disposal of God for the benefit and success of these celebrations. For me, the miracle of the events has already occurred in the holy journey of preparation which was witnessed among all those who participated in the preparations. I ask for your prayers of thanksgiving for them. They deserve our love and admiration.

That�s the last word, my brothers and sisters in Christ! I now invite you to enjoy a delicious dinner and a rich fraternal dialogue at your table. God bless you all!

C.I.X.!

Pavloosh,

We look upon Bishop Basil Takach as our (Carpatho-Rusyn) first bishop. Bishop Soter was Ukrainian and didn't have ordinary jurisdcition. I think it would look like we were trying to horn in and claim him as one of ours, when he was not.

Fr. Deacon Lance

How sad!

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I understand, I think.

But I know I don't understand.

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Bishop Stephen Ortynsky broke the ground for all non-Latin Catholics in the diaspora. The other Churches have followed in his footsteps.

We all proclaim the Creed on Sunday, including something about believing in One Church, don't we ?

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I am reminded of the joke of the man stranded on a deserted island. When he was rescued, there were three buildings on the island, his home and two churches.

When asked about the two churches, he replied "This is the one I go to, and that is the one I don't go to."

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Will any of the Ruthenian bishops be in attendance?

Bishop Ortynsky DID have ordinary jurisdiction over ALL Greek Catholics in the USA before he died. This was granted by Rome on May 28 1913. His vicar general was the Rev. Alexander Dzubay. (A Rusyn priest), as well as some other priests in top positions who were Carpatho Rusyn.

His appointed positions were almost half Ukrainian and half Rusyn to help level the playing field, and to try to stop the nationalist bickering that was going on at the time.

There are many good books on this subject, and it's fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in early Slavic Byzantine history in the USA.

Taken from byzcath.org website -

Scheduled to participate in the Divine Liturgy are the Apostolic Nuncio, the Most Rev. Pietro Sambi, seven cardinals and approximately one hundred Eastern and Latin Bishops. Bishop Ortynsky strove to build the Eastern Catholic Church in America. The fruits of his labors helped establish the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Byzantine Catholic Church here in America. These two Churches are part of the twenty-one Churches of the Catholic Church. After the Latin Church the Ukrainian Church is the largest in the world.

The celebrants for the Divine Liturgy include His Beatitude, Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, Major Archbishop of Kyiv and Halych, the entire Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Council of Hierarchs of the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Church, and visiting Hierarchs.

Watched the liturgy today. Very nice. Just one question though.

Does anyone here know the name of the hymn that was sung as the bishops were processing in? I've never heard it before, and it was a really beautiful hymn.

The liturgy was wonderful with a great choir and more bishops, priests and deacons than one could count! Wish I could have been there myself!

The only downside to the broadcast is the everpresent narrator telling us what we can easily see on the television screen!!! Argh!!! Why does it always seem necessary to have a narrator for these special liturgies??? It makes watching the Divine Liturgy seem mundane, more like watching a baseball game, with incessant chatter about the players, the teams, and whatnot...With technology available 10 years ago, the narration could have been on the main channel leaving the unspoiled audio for the rest of us on the SAP channel...It's frustrating to hear the choir start singing, only to be voiced over by the narrator. The end result is that it feels less like a DL and more like a documentary.

Etnick,

Bishop Soter did not have ordinary jurisdiction. He was an episcopal vicar for the Latin ordinaries that had a Greek Catholic parish in their territory. The Exarchates (and with them ordinary jurisdiction) were not erected until 1924.

Fr. Deacon Lance

The letter from Pope Benedict read at the liturgy called Bishop Soter first Ukrainian bishop in the US. It seemed pretty clear that this was a Ukrainina celebration to which Rusyns were invited. And thats all right, in 2024 the Ukrainians can come to Pittsburgh for the anniversary of Bishop Basil as first Carpatho-Rusyn bishop in the US.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Who says the Ukrainians will show up. They received Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky at the same time!

Etnick:
Slava Isusu Christu!
The entrance/processional hymn sung was "Bude Eemya Hospodne" - "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord" composed by Bortniansky.
Bude eemya Hospodne - blohosloven ot nenye ee do veeka.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever.
Email me if you'd like a copy of the music and words.
It was such an honor and privilege to sing in the 100+ choir - the Centennial Divine Liturgy was absolutely beautiful. A once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Pavloosh